Info needed re Winchester Model 52A

[1stsgt.]

A friend recently acquired a Winchester Model 52A. The rifle was sold by the famous Chicago retailer Marshal Fields & Co. The rifle is described as follows:

Serial # 41329A , production date between April 24 - May 4, 1936.

Furniture: "Mannlicher" type stock, premium finish walnut, raised cheekpiece, fancy checkering, steel buttplate checkered, pistol grip black cap with raised "Winchester Repeating Arms Co."

Bolt: Speed lock type, ball end of bolt handle is checkered.

Sights: Hooded ramp style front sight. Lyman adjustable peep rear sight.

Right Receiver marked with six US patent numbers.

Trigger guard markings: Between the clip and trigger guard "SPORTING". Forward of the clip "M.F. & C0. / Gun Shop."

Any information regarding this Winchester Model 52 and/or the Marshal Fields Gun Shop in general would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

1stSgt.

Information

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[Herschel]

1stsgt, As no experts have logged on to answer your questions I will attempt to give you some information. I have Herbert G. Houze's book, The Winchester Model 52. There is information on the model 52 Sporter but none are pictured with the full stock. The M52 sporter came with the word Sporting stamped between the trigger guard and magazine. That suggests that your friend's rifle came from the factory as a Sporter. The Sporter was available in the mid 1930's in a cheaper version that came in a stock that lacked checkering or a pistol grip cap. The usually seen 52 Sporter had a half stock with a hard rubber pistol grip cap, checkered stock with wide sling swivel bases and swivels and a black fore-end cap. Since your friend's rifle has the hard rubber grip cap I suspect it was a special order from Winchester. It is possible that MF & Co. gunsmiths would have salvaged and used the Winchester grip cap but I think it more likely that it was stocked with the full stock by Winchester. Perhaps MF & Co. ordered these with their name on them. An old MF price list or catalog should shed some light on this matter. Sorry I can't give you more reliable information. There are letters available from the Winchester Museum showing info about an individual rifle. I am not sure what year's records exist. I believe the letters are quite expensive but for a special rifle, as the one in question, would be worth more with the factory letter.

[binew]

1stsgt,

This 52 I believe was a special custom stocking job by MF&C, not by Winchester. This could have been done at any time not necessarily when new. MF&C, like VL&A in Chicago and GH in NY had a very special gun department and did special custom work. Who would even think that of MF&C ? I don't think it matters how it came from Winchester, the only reason it would be stamped MF&C would be if they did the work.
I agree with Herschel on the grip cap but believe this was a stock by MF&C. Herschel's suggestion is well taken about trying to get old catalog listings but I never recall seeing any.
I was there several times and made purchases there in the late 50's but at that time didn't need to know.

binew

[bullgun]

I agree the rifle wasn't stocked by Winchester. And only their sporter M 52 came with that "sporting" stamping on the floorplate, never the target models. So I think the likely scenario is that it came from Winchester as a standard Winchester sporter with typical sporter style stock with "ebony" forend cap and engraved pistol grip cap and checkered steel buttplate with the "Winchester" logo. THAT sporter was then likely restocked as suggested above in their own specialty gunsmithing shop on a custom basis.
I suggest you go to the site, "RimfireCentral.com", to the "Winchester" forum and pose the question to "Seewin". He is fairly quick to respond unless he is gone traveling, as will several other M-52 Win. aficianados. The Winchester museum in Cody goes to HIM for accurate Winchester 52 historical information. He is the LAST WORD in Winchester 52 information.
bullgun
PS; WARNING; EVERYONE over there is going to want to see MANY pix of this rifle.